Fashion junkies heading for the final on Dublin catwalk

Fashion 'junkies' from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne made a big impact on the catwalk in Limerick's University Concert Hall where an outfit created in the school using copper, cardboard and broken glass was selected to compete in the final of a national competition.

'Reflecting Refuse', which was made by Iseult Ní Lubhaing and modelled by Martha Ní Raghallaigh, was one of the outfits selected by the judges at the regional finals of 'Junk Couture', a competition which encourages secondary school students to take industrial, electrical, commercial and domestic waste products and turn them into pieces of fashion-art.

According to Iseult and Martha, copper was used to make the headpiece for the outfit while an elaborate dress was designed using layers of cardboard decorated with broken glass. Glass is also used on the bodice and the peplum belt while the outfit's shoes are adorned with shards of broken mirror.

The sold-out Junk Couture southern regional final in UCH featured some 83 outfits from a strong field of competitors.

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne were also represented on the catwalk on the night by 'News Flash'; a piece created by Anna Aranowska and modelled by Anele Grébliúnaite which included a headpiece made from plastic, a bodice made from newspaper crosswords and a skirt made from folded sections of old newspapers.

After much deliberation, the finalists were eventually chosen by the judges and now Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne's 'Recycling Refuse' will join 20 other outfits in the Junk Couture final in the Bórd Gais Energy Theatre on April 19.

"The standard this year was exceptionally high, which made the judges' decisions extremely difficult," said Elizabeth O'Donnell, co-founder of Junk Kouture. "The talent is exceptional and we are very excited about the grand finale next month."